Spring 2021 Automation Industry Sentiment Survey

Spring 2021Automation IndustrySentiment SurveyPUBLISHED: MARCH 2021

© 2021 Interact Analysis. All Rights Reserved.

This survey was conducted by Interact Analysis in partnership with the Association

for Advancing Automation (A3) to assess the automation industry’s sentiments

around current market conditions and perception of future performance.

Over 200 respondents from automation-related companies with combined revenues

in excess of $50 billion responded to the survey.

This survey gathered from Mid-February 2021 to Mid-March 2021

and the results are being released in conjunction with the virtual tradeshow &

conference ‘Automate Forward’ which runs from the 22nd to 26th March 2021.

▪ The automation industry has an overwhelmingly positive outlook for 2021, with

headcount, revenue and automation investment expected to grow in excess of 10%.

▪ Two-thirds of respondents believe that within the next 12 months COVID-19 will no

longer negatively impact their business.

▪ Despite the downturn in vehicle sales, Automotive is expected to be the #1 driver of

growth followed closely by Food & Beverage.

▪ The current turmoil of the pandemic has created a paradox of some companies facing

very weak demand, whilst others unable to keep up with demand.

▪ A large proportion of responses stated that they want to quickly return to trade shows

in person with 81% of respondents wanting to return, and most within the next year.

▪ The industry expects automation investment by customers to grow by an average of

26% in 2021.

About this survey

Key Findings:

Spring 2021 Automation Industry Sentiment Survey

3

Expected Growth in 2021

10%

15%

20%

14%

41%

21%

20%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

End-User

Machine Builder

Machine Vision Manufacturer

Motion Control/MotorManufacturer

Robot Manufacturer

Other

All respondents

17%

34%

26%

14%

50%

20%

24%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

End-User

Machine Builder

Machine VisionManufacturer

MotionControl/MotorManufacturer

Robot Manufacturer

Other

All respondents

32%

30%

21%

16%

41%

24%

26%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

End-User

Machine Builder

Machine VisionManufacturer


RobotManufacturer

Other

All respondents

Average Expected Headcount GrowthAverage Expected Automation Investment Growth Post-

COVID-19Average Expected Revenue Growth


4

In what timeframe do you expect COVID-19to have minimal / zero impact on your industry?

Already There: 20.4%

In Next 3 months:

3.9%

In 3-6 Months: 13.8%

In 6-12 months: 26.5%

Feb ‘21

May ‘21

Aug ‘21

Feb ‘22 Feb ’23 -

In 12-18 Months: 28.3%

In 18 months or more: 14.9%

Aug ‘22


5

1st 2nd 3rd

End-User / Manufacturing

Company

Automotive 28.6% Electronics /

Semiconductors 25%

Automotive 30.0%

Machine Builder Other Industry 33.3% Transportation / Marine /

Rail 27.3%

Automotive 44.4%

Manufacturer of Machine

Vision Products

Automotive 40.0% Other Industry 30.0% Electronics /

Semiconductors 23.5%

Manufacturer of Motion

Control & Motor Products

Food & Beverage 31..8% Electronics /


Other Industry 26.3%

Manufacturer of Robots Other Industry 30.0% Food & Beverage 29.4% Food & Beverage 18.8%

System

Integrator/Distributor

Food & Beverage 29.2% Food & Beverage

21.4%

Electronics /


Other Other Industry 40.0% Automotive 25.9% Food & Beverage 31.8%

Other Industry, 29%

Automotive, 17%

Food & Beverage, 17%

Electronics/Semiconductors, 12%

Transportation / Marine / Rail, 7%

Metals, Rubbers, Plastics, 7%

Pharmaceuticals, 6%

Aerospace, 6%

Which 3 end industries do you expect to drive themost growth for your organization in 2021?


Which Verticals will Drive your Growth in 2021?

6

What are the 3 biggest challengesyour organization is currently facing?

Hiring / Retaining Staff, 14.1%

Managing COVID restrictions on

internal operations, 6.5%

Complying with customers' COVID restrictions, 5.8%

Weak customer demand, 19.3%

Restriction on travel & seeing

customers, 31.4%

Being able to meet customer demand,

20.4%

Other, 2.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

End-User Machine Builder Machine VisionManufacturer


RobotManufacturer

SI / Distributor Other

Other Being able to meet customer demand

Restriction on travel & seeing customers Weak customer demand

Complying with customers' COVID restrictions Managing COVID restrictions on internal operations

Hiring / Retaining Staff


What are the Biggest Challenge Currently Facing your Organization? What are the Biggest Challenge Currently Facing your Organization?

15.1%

81.0%

3.9%

Don't know Will Attend Unlikely to attend in-person trade shows again

7

In what timeframe would you be willing to attendan in-person trade show again?

Right Now: 15.6%

In 3 months: 7.2%

In 6 Months: 28.3%

In 12 months: 21.1%

In 1-2 Years: 8.3%

Feb ‘21

May ‘21

Aug ‘21

Feb ‘22

Feb ‘23


Decrease, 5%

Don't know, 6%

Increase, 63%

Stay the same, 26%

8

Compared to 2020 do you expect your organization’sinvestment in capacity or infrastructure to increase, decreaseor stay the same in 2021?

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

End-User MachineBuilder

MachineVision

Manufacturer


RobotManufacturer

SI / Distributor Other

Decrease Don't know Increase Stay the same

What do you expect to happen to your organization’s investment in capacity or infrastructure?

What do you expect to happen to your organization’s investment in capacity or infrastructure?


Americas70.3%

APAC6.1%

EMEA23.6%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

<$10m $11m - $50m $51m -$100m

$101m -$250m

$251m -$500m

$500m - $1bn >$1bn

9

Demographic of Respondents

13.0%

5.8%

9.4%

14.3%

12.1%

27.4%

17.9%End-User

Machine Builder

Machine Vision Manufacturer

Motion Control/Motor Manufacturer

Robot Manufacturer

System Integrator/Distributor

Other

Region of Origin

Approximate Revenue

Company Type


10

Demographic of Respondents Cont’d:Which are the 3 largest end industries foryour company's products / services?

Company Type Most Common First ChoiceMost Common Second

Choice

Most Common Third

Choice

End-User / Manufacturing

Company

Automotive 28.6% Metals / Rubbers / Plastics

31.25%

Electronics /

Semiconductor 23.1%

Machine Builder Other Industry 25.0% Transportation / Marine /

Rail 33.3%

Automotive 25%

Manufacturer of Machine

Vision Products

Automotive 42.9% Other Industry 19.1% Electronics &

Semiconductor 30.0%

Manufacturer of Motion

Control & Motor Products

Automotive 34.5% Other Industry 20.7% Metals / Rubbers / Plastics

25.9%

Manufacturer of Robots Other Industry 50.0% Other Industry 33.3% Food & Beverage 29.4%

System

Integrator/Distributor

Automotive 37.5% Other Industry 31.0% Food & Beverage 24.0%

Other Automotive 40.0% Food & Beverage 16.3% Other Industry 28.2%

Other Industry, 34.4%

Automotive, 25.1%

Food & Beverage, 14.9%

Electronics / Semiconductors,

11.1%

Transportation / Marine / Rail, 7.4%

Aerospace, 7.3%

Metals / Rubbers / Plastics, 5.6%

Most Common Choices for Largest End Industry


▪ Interact Analysis has partnered with the Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

and provides regular automation industry insights to A3 members.

▪ This survey was done for the Automate Forward virtual trade show and conference

March 22-26, 2021, and the results are available to the public for free.

▪ More information and insights await you through membership in A3. Contact Alex

Shikany, A3 Vice President of Membership & Business Intelligence

([email protected]) for more information, or visit www.automate.org to join

the leading global automation association.

Join A3 for More Automation Insights!

VISIT AUTOMATE.ORG


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.automate.org/

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12Spring 2021 Automation Industry Sentiment Survey

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Spring 2021 Automation Industry Sentiment Survey